When word trickled out that Joel Embiid wouldn’t play Friday against Atlanta due to the right ankle he tweaked a few days prior in Washington, it seemed like the right call. Still does, in fact. The Sixers need their best player healthy for a grueling upcoming stretch that will last a month. They should beat the Hawks at home even without his services. Even if Embiid hasn’t looked too gassed in recent games, the occasional night off is never a bad thing.

The Sixers responded by giving up 123 points to the 29th-ranked offense in the NBA. Oops.

Following such a loss, the conversation should stay right there. Some may focus on Jimmy Butler’s busy night and his role in the offense, shot selection, late-game plan of attack, key missed free throw, et cetera. Long-term, how Butler fits in Philly is the top story. At the moment, though, it’s team defense.

This wasn’t a perfect game from Butler, but he ended up with 30 points on decent enough efficiency.